The Bujang Valley (or Lembah Bujang) in Kedah is often described as the "Angkor Wat of Malaysia," though its ruins are much older and tell the story of a thriving Hindu-Buddhist maritime civilization that predates even the Great Pyramids of Southeast Asia.
If you were to visit today, here is what you would find:
1. The "Candis" (Temple Ruins)
While many of the 50+ identified sites are scattered or hidden in the jungle, several have been excavated and reconstructed for visitors.
- Candi Bukit Batu Pahat: This is the "crown jewel" of the valley. It is a 6th-to-12th-century granite temple dedicated to Shiva. It’s unique because it was built using stone from the nearby river, whereas most other temples in the area were made of brick or laterite.
- Relocated Temples: To protect them from development and the elements, several other ruins—like Candi Pendiat and Candi Pengkalan Bujang—were carefully moved from their original discovery spots and reassembled in a cluster near the museum.
2. The Sungai Batu Site
Recently, the focus has shifted to the Sungai Batu archaeological site, which is just a few kilometers away. This site has completely rewritten Malaysian history books.
- Oldest Civilization in SEA: Evidence of iron smelting and a ritual site there has been carbon-dated back to 788 BC, making it the oldest man-made structure in Southeast Asia—significantly older than Borobudur or Angkor Wat.
- The Ancient Jetty: You can see the remains of a massive brick jetty that once served as a bustling port for international traders from India and China.
3. The Archaeological Museum
The Lembah Bujang Archaeological Museum in Merbok acts as the gateway to these ruins.9 It houses a fascinating collection of:
- Inscribed Stone Caskets: Used to hold sacred relics or "seeds" of the temple.
- Trade Artifacts: Chinese ceramics, Indian beads, and Middle Eastern glassware that prove this was a global trade hub 2,000 years ago.
- Religious Statues: Beautifully preserved bronze and terracotta figures of Buddha and Hindu deities like Ganesha.
Visiting Info
- Location: Merbok, Kedah (at the foot of the majestic Mount Jerai, which served as a navigation landmark for ancient sailors).
- Entrance: Generally free, and it’s a very peaceful, uncrowded alternative to the more famous regional sites.
It is a hauntingly beautiful place where you can see the literal foundations of Malaysia’s ancient multicultural history.
Further reading:
- Wikipedia : Bujang Valley
- Malay Mail: Centuries-Old Temple ruins in Bujang Valley furtively destroyed
- USM : Online News
24/12/2025: 7.07 p.m
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